LG Electronics introduces the tiiun, a plant-growing appliance

Flowers and vegetables are grown in the LG Tiiun, LG Electronics' indoors plant-growing device. [LG ELECTRONICS]

LG Electronics introduced the LG tiiun, an indoor plant-growing appliance, Thursday to tap into the growing indoor gardening market, with further plans to develop a mini version.

The plant cultivator is 81.5 centimeters (32 inches) tall and has two shelves that can each hold up to three of the company’s gardening kits, which include seeds and artificial soil. The electronics maker sells 20 types of seed kits compatible with the device, including those for green vegetables such as kale, romaine lettuce and bok choy. Herbs and a range of flowers including marigolds are also offered.

The company is currently developing a smaller version of the plant-growing device, the LG tiiun Mini. The product will hold one seed kit but provide more space for the plants to grow compared to the larger model.

Customers can buy the seed kits individually, or sign up for a monthly subscription.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in the machine emit light at wavelengths most suitable for plant growth, the company said. Temperatures in the chamber are controlled to replicate natural temperature changes of day to night via an inverter compressor, which is used in the company’s LG Dios refrigerator.

Water supply technology from in its Puricare water purifier is utilized, automatically watering the plants eight times a day when the user fills a lower tank inside the machine with water and plant supplements. Technology used in the Whisen air conditioner is used to circulate air in the chamber and bring in air from outside.

The device can be monitored on the LG ThingQ application, notifying the users when it needs to be refilled with water and when vegetables are ready to be harvested.

The orders will be taken starting Thursday through Oct. 31. People who wish to see and try the device can visit the company’s showroom at Platz, a cultural complex located in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul. The showroom will be open early November, and the end date is not decided yet.

Although the device is not available globally, the company said it has further plans to offer it to customers abroad.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]